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No prayer at council meetings in Las Vegas, NM

Associated Press - December 18, 2009 11:55 AM ET

LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) - The City Council in Las Vegas, N.M., has unanimously rejected a proposal by Mayor Tony Marquez to open each meeting with an invocation.

In arguing for his plan at Wednesday's meeting, Marquez said the U.S. Congress and New Mexico Legislature have prayers to begin their sessions.

He says he believes doing so would help city officials "get along better."

Councilman Andrew Feldman warned that the city would have to be careful to recognize all religions with such prayers. Otherwise, he says the city may face lawsuits.

Feldman also pointed out the meetings already include a moment of silence.

When Marquez was a councilman four years ago, he had proposed a prayer during meetings. His colleagues rejected the idea back then, too.

Information from: Las Vegas Optic, http://www.lasvegasoptic.com

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